SPEAKING WITH THE ENEMY: Red Wings at Oilers

The Detroit Red Wings are in Edmonton tonight to face the Oilers for their final matchup of the season, and we’ve asked writers from both OilersNation and WingsNation to get you set for tonight’s matchup. We’ve also put together a few notes to get you ready for the final time these two teams will meet this year.

Please note that this article is posted at both OilersNation and WingsNation

After playing last night in Calgary, the Red Wings are back at it again tonight in the Alberta capital to face the Edmonton Oilers. Edmonton will be a rested team as they haven’t played since Tuesday night’s win against the St. Louis Blues, and they’ll be looking to continue their winning streak over a depleted Detroit team. Tonight’s game is about streaks ending as the Oilers look to end their 10-year playoff drought whereas the Wings appear destined to miss the playoffs for the first time in 25 years.

Points Leaders:

Connor McDavid (EDM) – 21G, 51A = 72 points

Leon Draisaitl (EDM) – 23G, 31A = 54 points

Henrik Zetterberg (DET) – 14G, 34A = 48 points

Jordan Eberle (EDM) – 13G, 25A = 38 points

Anthony Mantha (DET) – 13G, 18A = 31 points

Frans Nielson (DET) – 13G, 17A = 30 points

Goaltenders:

Detroit:

Player

GP

GS

W

L

T

OT

SA

GA

GAA

S

Sv%

SO

MIN

Petr Mrazek

39

34

15

16

0

7

1,108

108

2.95

1,000

.903

1

2,201

Jared Coreau

13

13

5

3

0

3

354

38

3.27

316

.893

2

699

Edmonton:

Player

GP

GS

W

L

T

OT

SA

GA

GAA

S

Sv%

SO

MIN

Cam Talbot

57

57

32

18

0

7

1,672

134

2.38

1,538

.920

5

3,379

Laurent Brossoit

4

2

1

1

0

0

89

8

2.89

81

.910

0

166

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

Why is your team going to win or why will your enemy lose?

WingsNation:

Because the universe doesn’t want a Red Wings rebuild.

Baggedmilk (OilersNation):

Why? Because Detroit sucks so bad that you’d think that THEY were the Edmonton Oilers. Also, they don’t have Connor McDavid. Make sense?

Who’s hot? Who’s not?

WingsNation:

Henrik Zetterberg has been dominant for a few weeks. Who’s been cold? Uh, this guy.

Baggedmilk:

Mmmm Leon Draisaitl is so sexy. I mean what? In all seriousness, the Looch-Nuge-Eberle line is starting to heat up and having them produce with regularity is bad news for the opposition.

Why should people watch this game?

WingsNation:

I would suggest watching it if you enjoy hockey. Or if you live in Edmonton and have nothing better to do.

Baggedmilk:

Connor McDavid > Detroit Red Wings

Say something nice about your opponent.

WingsNation:

Knowing that people could inhabit Edmonton, Alberta was a nice way to help get us through the housing market crash of the last 2000s. Thanks for that!

Baggedmilk:

Thanks for Eminem and to a lesser extent Kid Rock.

Any last words?

WingsNation:

The only thing that lasted longer than our playoff streak was your rebuild.

Connor might just be fortunate that the Wings didn’t have their fastest skaters at the all-star game this year. Some say that Larkin isn’t even the fastest Wing this year. So Connor might have been the fastest skater who was at the all-star game but certainly can’t validate that he is even the fastest in the league this season.

First, Screw Detroit for Kid Rock. May you all rot just for that sin alone.

But, I mean, if you’re gonna chirp about habitable cities, maybe they should learn how to get clean water to their citizens. Your city is literally toxic. That explains Kid Rock somewhat, but not well enough

Come on now. It’s not like Edmonton would be the first place on earth to live in. (Just look out the window right now)
I only live here because of the Oilers.
There’s not enough pure water in the world to substitute that.

I wouldn’t ever live in Edmonton. Ever…but I’m a small town guy. I like mountains. However, if I had to choose between Edmonton and Detroit, I’d have to choose the one that is able to provide the basic necessities of life. Plus, the Joe is the worst rink in the league. I wouldn’t let my dog poo in that building.

A lot of credit going the Red Wings way over the years and deservedly so they have been a very good franchise for a long time. However I am old enough to remember them when they were known as the Dead Wings. Some of their success comes from a time when they could outspend everyone in Canada and have 55 million dollar rosters when Edmonton , Calgary and other Canadian cities were under 20 million an unfair advantage for almost 20 years. Some of that success spilled over even after the cap was introduced to their credit. All teams are on an equal playing field now and most teams eventually have to face a rebuild during an organizational cycle and now it’s the Wings turn.I am curious to see when they draft a top 3 prospect whether they let him perculate in the minors for years or if they play him right away.